Do I need a docking station?

Actually, this is for my son. Remote summer internship. Company gave him a laptop, but he wants to add an external monitor and possible keyboard. Can these extras plug right into the laptop? Or does he need a dock?  Laptop is a Dell if that makes a difference.


Unless his laptop doesn't have usb ports or an HDMI/Displayport, he doesn't need a docking station to hook up an external keyboard or monitor.


Komarovsky said:

Unless his laptop doesn't have usb ports or an HDMI/Displayport, he doesn't need a docking station to hook up an external keyboard or monitor.

Thanks!


My Dell laptop only has (2) USB-C ports, so I have a small Dell Dock which plugs into one of the USB-C ports and provides me with a standard USB port, another USB-C port, an ethernet port and a couple of others that I don't use, so I'm not sure what they are - perhaps hdmi, video, etc.  So it really depends on the laptop.  Also, if there are several items to plug into, it can be nice to have them all plugged into a dock and then only have one plug in from the laptop to the dock, but that's personal preference.


I use my dock as the 'quick connect' to my monitor and mouse (and just use the laptop keyboard). Since the laptop goes from on-site office to work office, the docking station at each place is helpful for a quicker connect.


Turns out the monitor has an HDMI connector, but the laptop does not have an HDMI port. I hate having to figure out these things. Is there such thing as an adaptor?? Plus, I have no idea what kind of USB it is. Does Best Buy have to be my next stop?


shoshannah said:

Turns out the monitor has an HDMI connector, but the laptop does not have an HDMI port. I hate having to figure out these things. Is there such thing as an adaptor?? Plus, I have no idea what kind of USB it is. Does Best Buy have to be my next stop?

what's the model of the laptop? we can get the details on the available ports and expansion options.

there are video adapters, assuming the laptop has some kind of video port.

also, does the monitor have ports other than HDMI? sometimes they come with multiple types of ports.


shoshannah said:

Turns out the monitor has an HDMI connector, but the laptop does not have an HDMI port. I hate having to figure out these things. Is there such thing as an adaptor?? Plus, I have no idea what kind of USB it is. Does Best Buy have to be my next stop?

There are Dell docks that plug into your laptop USB or USB-C port that have an HDMI port.  Check the Dell website or Amazon.


shoshannah said:

Turns out the monitor has an HDMI connector, but the laptop does not have an HDMI port. I hate having to figure out these things. Is there such thing as an adaptor?? Plus, I have no idea what kind of USB it is. Does Best Buy have to be my next stop?


I have a docking port that should work for him. I’ll PM you.



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